Time controlled automatic circuit selecting device



Dec. 29, 1942. R. H FISHER ,3 ,5

I TIME CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT SELECTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29, 1942. H, FlSHER 2,306,532

TIME CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT SELECTING DEVICE 4 Filed Feb. 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOOOOOOQ Qo /l 1/ 1:31 W

INVENTOR Patented Dec. 29, 1942 TIME CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT SELECTING DEVICE Robert H. Fisher, New York, N. Y.

Application February 6, 1940, Serial No. 317,505

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in program clocks especially useful in radio reception and has particular reference to a switching device therefor.

The features of the present device reside in the manner of mounting a rotatable contact carrying member in association with a clock, and the provision of contact elements of novel construction which are selectively mountable on said carrying member in cooperating relation to a series of terminals for effecting the preselection of electrical circuits.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions some of which, for purposes of illustration, are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view showing the application of the present invention to a clock mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view showing portions of the switching mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the contact carrying members, with one of the contact elements mounted therein and showing one form of said element.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the element or pin of Fig. 4, illustrating the manner in which the same is marked for identification.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the pin shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of a series of contact pins, showing another form thereof in which each pin is of a different length.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through one of the pins of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the contact carrying member showing a switching mechanism in association therewith, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another form of or weight operated motor, capable of accurate time keeping and the intended purpose, would also be suitable. Such motors are in very common use, and therefore further particulars or explanation are not deemed necessary.

In Fig. l, the dial cup is connected, by rods 2!, to the rear supporting plate 22 and this structure constitutes the mounting frame of the device upon which all parts are mounted or assembled, and also constitutes the means of mounting this device on another machine, in a cabinet or panel or in a recess in the wall.

Motor 4, through suitable gearing not shown but assumed to be contained in gear housing 5, rotates member l of ratchet clutch in a clockwise direction, one revolution per hour. Clutch member I, through a one way ratchet arrangement, (details not shown) rotates clutch member 2 likewise in a clockwise direction; the function of the clutch is merely to permit the resetting of the clock by permitting the train of gears ahead of clutch to be rotated by knob 21; on minute hand shaft 3. Clutch member 2 is rigidly connected to minute hand shaft 3, and through it, by means of suitable gears, rotates pinion 593 and cam 5|, four revolutions per hour; minute hand So, one revolution per hour; hour hand shaft with its hour hand 80: and gear to on hour hand shaft, once in twelve hours. Gear 8b, meshing with spur gear idler 9, in turn meshes with gear IOU, an integral part of ring IE3, and rotates ring I0 once in twenty four hours. I

The rotatable ring It is held in its operatingposition by a contractile spring, ll, disposed within an annular groove, 52a, formed in the inner circumference of said member and groove 122), formed in the outside circumference of dial cup 20.

The rotatable contact carrying member or ring is provided with ninety six holes or apertures l3,

extended through said member at right angles to its face. As said member or ring rotates once in twenty-four hours each hole represents one ninety-sixth of twenty-four hours or 15 minutes, and is designated by suitable markings 6 on the ring.

A small mark, I5, shaped in the form of an equilateral triangle, on the outside circumference of clock dial, at the numeral 3, points to number one on the ring. The time on the clock shows 1 also. The function of the mark I5 is to point to the part of the ring which is for the same time as that of the clock. Obviously, all numbers on the ring, above this mark, represent past time, and all below, future time. It is not necessary to designate one-half of the ring as A. M. hours and the other part as P. M. hours. In fact, it is much more convenient to use either half of ring for A. M. or P. M. hours as desired, the remaining half will naturally fall to the remaining hours. One cannot become confused in presetting the device as the hole at the marker represents present time. However, provision can be made to color one-half of the rings face in one color, and the other halfin another color to designate A. M.

and P. M. Attention is called to the fact that the number of holes, or the speed or direction of rotation, could be varied to accommodate other combinations. The holes or the speed etc. could even be irregular, all of which emphasizse the marvelous flexibility of the device.

Rotatable ring It has an annular groove i8 cut into the outer circumference of the ring and extending partially into the holes or apertures of the ring. around the circumference of the groove l3 pro trudes partially into hole 13 and said spring is held in place in said annular groove by its own tension. Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 8, all plugs have an annular groove ll around their shank just below the shoulder of the head of plug. When plug is inserted into hole, the annular groove I! in plug becomes aligned with annular groove iii in ring and contractile spring snaps into the annular groove ll of plug, thereby releasably holding same in position.

Directly behind the rotatable ring it) at the vicinity of the indicating mark i5, contact block Ilia and [Eb are fastened to dial cup 2|] of the mounting frame at right angles to the rotating ring, so contacts 32a, 321), etc., are in position to receive any of the plugs, shown in Figures 4, 7 and 10, as they pass through contact block [Ba and I 6b when the contact carrying ring is rotated. At a certain point they mesh with certain of the contacts on block [6a and [5b. In the case of plugs 32 to 36 the length of the plug determines the particular contacts on block Mia and IE1) that are selected. In the case of plug 38, it is the degree that the plug is inserted that the circumference of the plug and do not consist of a complete ferrule as in the other plugs. Also plug 39 has a key M], which fits into key way 4|.

It should also be noted from Figure 3 that the contacts on contact block 55a and 56b are protected by cam M from injury that would result from a plug being forcefully inserted into a hole when contacts were in alignment with the hole. This cam is readily moved out of the path of a plug by the plug itself as it passes, and after the plug has passed, cam is restored to position by cam spring Ma.

Referring to Figure 3, the energizing switch 48 consists of two fingers 22 and 23, with their contacts 26 and 25 and cam 5| rotated by pinion 50.

Contacts 25 and 25 are normally open. As cam 5| is rotated it engages and raises finger 22 the extent of the incline on insulated tip 49. Before tip 49 has completely passed under finger 22, said tip 49 also engages and raises finger 23. With finger 23 raised cam tip G9 passes from under finger 22 and said finger snaps downwardly making contact 26 and 25. The continued rotation of cam 5! causes tip G8 to pass from under finger 23 thereby breaking contacts at and 25. This operation is repeated for each hole as it passes the associated contacts on blocks Mia and 16b.

Operation Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 and assuming the motor is running, operating the timing mechanism, and said mechanism is set for correct time then according to Figure 2 it is one oclock. The next selectable period is one fifteen oclock.

A contractile spring l9 extending By inserting plug 32 in the hole i3 of the rotatable ring i 0, designated on ring as for one fifteen oclock which is the next hole in a clockwise direction to the one presently at the indicator I5 on the bezel of the clock dial, the rotation of the ring In in a counterclockwise direction would bring plug 32 in contact with associated contacts 32a and 32b, and also contact 31.

Precisely at one fifteen contacts 25 and 25 of the energizing switch 48 would make and establish an electrical circuit from contact 25 through contact 25 to dial cup 20 to rotatable ring H! to inserted plug to contact 32a and 32b, also contacts 31. As cam 49 moved further, contacts 25 and 26 would open opening circuit and latter by the continued rotation of the ring is contacts 32a and 32b and 3? would disengage from plug 32.

The insertion of another plug, say 33, in the next hole would cause a different set of contacts to be made particular to said plug, and so on each type of plug or the arrangement of ferrules or contact areas on plug would determine the contacts made.

In this manner my device can be preset to automatically make or break an almost innumerable number or combinations of electrical circuits.

While fifteen minute periods are shown, it must be obvious that other periods could be arranged for, also that the duration of make and break could be varied over a wide range. The present described 15 minute periods coincide with the division of time most common in radio broadcasting and the application of my device to the preselection of radio programs is one of its important uses.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a timing mechanism, a bank of terminals, a rotatable member driven by said timing mechanism and having a circumferential row of apertures therein, and a series of preselectable electrical contact pins of different lengths, each individual to one of said terminals and insertable through any one of said apertures, each pin having spaced electrically connected conducting portions and an intervening insulation with one of the said conducting portions adapted for contact with a terminal in said bank individual to said pin and said insulation engaging others of said terminals.

2. In combination, a timing mechaniscm including a dial face having a groove in its periphery, a series of terminals, a rotatable member driven by said timing mechanism and having a series of apertures therein and further having an annular groove, a contractile spring disposed in said grooves, and a contact pin insertible in any one of said apertures for engagement with a selected one of said terminals when said rotatable member has reached a predetermined point in its rotation.

3. In combination, a timing mechanism, a member driven by said timing mechanism, a series of terminals, a contact member mountable on said driven member in various positions relative to said terminals for making electrical contact therewith, said contact member including a conducting tip and shank, a series of spaced insulated sleeves on said shank each individual to one one of the terminals of said. series, and means on said driven member engageable with said shank between adjacent sleeves when said tip is enaged with one of the said terminals at a predetermined period of time.

4. In a time controlled automatic circuit selecting device for electrically selecting and controlling a plurality of electrical contacts, the combination of a timing mechanism including a clock and dial face, a common synchronous source of power for the clock and timing mechanism, a rotatable electrical contact-carrying ring mounted in encircling relation to said dial face, a mounting for said ring, a contractile spring holding said ring in its operative position, said mounting and ring having cooperating grooves each partially receiving said spring, and said ring having a circumferential row of apertures therein, a plurality of associated electrical contact members adjacent to said ring, and several contact members insertible into said apertures for electrical engagement with one or more of the first mentioned plurality of contact members.

5. In a time controlled automatic circuit selecting device for electrically selecting and controlling a plurality of electrical contacts, the combination of a timing mechanism including a clock and dial face, a common synchronous source of power for the clock and timing mechanism, a 1'0- tatable electrical contact-carrying ring mounted in encircling relation to said dial face, a mounting for said ring, a contractil spring holding said ring in its operative position, said mounting and ring having cooperating grooves each partially receiving said spring, and said ring having a circumferential row of apertures therein, a plurality of associated electrical contact members adjacent to said ring and contact plugs insertible into said apertures and having conducting segments arranged at varying distances from the outer ends of the plugs for contact with different ones of the first named contact members.

6. In a time controlled automatic circuit selecting device for electrically selecting and controlling a plurality of electrical contacts, the combination of a timing mechanism including a clock and dial face, a common synchronous source of power for the clock and timing mechanism, a rotatable electrical contact-carrying ring mounted in encircling relation to said dial face, a mounting for said ring, a contractile spring holding said ring in its operative position, said mounting and ring having cooperating grooves each partially receiving said spring, and said ring having a circumferential row of apertures therein with each of said apertures having a key way, a plurality of associated electrical contact members adjacent said ring, and contact plugs for insertion into said apertures and each having a key adjacent its outer end for engagement in said key ways and further having conducting segments spaced along the length thereof for engagement with different ones of said contact members.

ROBERT HENRY FISHER. 

